Officials at Arizona State University said that Kyle Rittenhouse was not currently enrolled at the university, though he was taking online classes, as activists called for his removal from the school.
“Kyle Rittenhouse has not gone through the admissions process with Arizona State University and is not enrolled in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation,” University officials said in the days after Rittenhouse’s trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse was tried and acquitted after shooting three men in self-defense during uprisings in Kenosha in August 2020.
“ASU can confirm that Mr. Rittenhouse enrolled as a non-degree seeking ASU Online student for the session that started Oct. 13, 2021, which allows students access to begin taking classes as they prepare to seek admission into a degree program at the university.”
The University released a second statement on Monday indicating that Rittenhouse was not enrolled as a student at ASU.
“Kyle Rittenhouse has not gone through the ASU admissions process. Our records show that he is not currently enrolled in any classes at ASU,” the statement read.
Dave Hancock, a spokesman for the Rittenhouse family, told Fox News Tuesday that Kyle’s professors advised him to temporarily withdraw from classes but that he is planning on enrolling again.
“Amid his most recent semester, Kyle’s professors at Arizona State University recommended a compassionate withdrawal of his online classes. Now that the trial is behind him, Kyle is eager to enroll in more classes. He is hopeful that attending Arizona State in person will soon be an option,” Hancock said.
Rittenhouse said during his testimony at trial that he was enrolled at Arizona State, then said the same thing in an interview with Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.
The University’s announcement comes after several left-wing student groups demanded Rittenhouse be removed from the University despite his acquittal. The Daily Wire reported:
The Arizona State University Students for Socialism, Students for Justice in Palestine, Multicultural Solidarity Coalition, and MECHA de ASU are holding an event dubbed, “RALLY AND PROTEST TO GET MURDERER KYLE RITTENHOUSE OFF OUR CAMPUS,” set to be held on campus on Wednesday, December 1st, at 3:30 p.m.
The allied groups demanded the following:
- WITHDRAW KYLE RITTENHOUSE FROM ASU.
- RELEASE A STATEMENT AGAINST WHITE SUPREMACY & RACIST MURDERER KYLE RITTENHOUSE.
- REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR THE MULTICULTURAL CENTER ON CAMPUS AS A SPACE SAFE FROM WHITE SUPREMACY.
- REDIRECT FUNDING FROM ASU PD TO SUPPORT MULTICULTURAL CENTER AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A CAARE [sic] CENTER ON CAMPUS.
“Even with a not-guilty verdict from a flawed ‘justice’ system – Kyle Rittenhouse is still guilty to his victims and the families of those victims,” the groups stated. “Join us to demand from ASU that these demands be met to protect students from a violent, blood-thirsty murderer.”
Rittenhouse was found not guilty on five counts of homicide on November 19. Rittenhouse claimed he was working in Kenosha County during the riots of August 2020. On the night of August 25th, Rittenhouse, then 17, said he went out into the streets of Kenosha to administer first aid and protect local businesses against being vandalized. While guarding the car dealership, Rittenhouse was confronted and chased by protestors. He shot three men in self-defense, killing two and injuring a third, before turning himself into police.